Question

Imagine that you were to hold the block at x = 6.0 cm and then physically move it to x = 8.0 cm. Will you the change in spring potential energy be more, less, or the same in this case compared to moving it from x = 6.0 cm to x = −8.0 cm?

Answer 1

The change in spring potential energy will be less when moving the block from x = 6.0 cm to x = 8.0 cm compared to moving it from x = 6.0 cm to x = -8.0 cm.

Step-by-step explanation:

When moving the block from x = 6.0 cm to x = 8.0 cm, the change in spring potential energy will be less compared to moving it from x = 6.0 cm to x = -8.0 cm.

The potential energy stored in a spring is given by U = 1/2kx², where k is the spring constant and x is the displacement from the equilibrium position.

Since the displacement from x = 6.0 cm to x = 8.0 cm is smaller than the displacement from x = 6.0 cm to x = -8.0 cm, the change in spring potential energy will be smaller for the former case.